Third brake light not working....what should i do before bringing it in? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Hotlava86 · 09-08-2012, 01:02 AM

Well today i was informed by my friend that my third brake light was not functioning. Upon inspection....it's not. i inspected the wiring harness for the light and it is fine. and plugged in.

If i have to take it into the dealership what should i do?

I have a 12" sub and amp installed, an exhaust, an Intake and a crank pulley and an HKS oil filter. ( yes i know the performance parts have nothing to do with the brake light)

Should i remove anything before taking it in?

Lonewolf · 09-08-2012, 01:06 AM

The bulb is still good right...what about the fuse?

Hotlava86 · 09-08-2012, 01:09 AM

aren't there multiple bulbs in the third brake light? i thought there were 3-4 LED's in it? and i wouldn't think there would be a fuse just for the third brake light and not just tied in with the other brake lights. I would think the bulbs would be fine. However i have no idea how long they've been out...

Lonewolf · 09-08-2012, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotlava86

aren't there multiple bulbs in the third brake light? i thought there were 3-4 LED's in it? and i wouldn't think there would be a fuse just for the third brake light and not just tied in with the other brake lights. I would think the bulbs would be fine. However i have no idea how long they've been out...

I have no idea since I don't have an FRS yet, whenever my brake lights have gone out, it was always either a bulb or a fuse...easy stuff first

gmookher · 09-08-2012, 10:21 AM

who installed the stereo and sub?

Hotlava86 · 09-09-2012, 01:05 AM

its not the sub...and it was done professionally. we did a continuity test on the light today. it isn't working at all. its getting power but its not functioning. SO WARRANTY TIME!

White64Goat · 09-09-2012, 11:39 PM

If you used a test light to check for power at the connector or sockets, and you have power, then you have a bad ground. (Assuming all the bulbs are good).

Hotlava86 · 09-10-2012, 12:53 AM

we did a test from the battery with a continuity tested straight to the third brake lights connector. so gave it straight power and it didn't light at all. so the light assembly is bad...Toyota can't get it in until this coming friday...ugh

Draco-REX · 09-10-2012, 09:39 AM

The third brake lights have been defective in a number of cars (if you haven't checked yours, do so.) The part can be replaced from inside the cabin. I don't know if they have to get to the plug in the trunk, but in case they do, make sure that's accessible.

Also, the part sometimes shows up as back-ordered in the Subaru parts system, just tell them to order it anyways. Mine was supposedly a couple months out, but it arrived in 2 weeks.

After you bring it in, keep a copy of the inspection in your glovebox so if you get pulled over you can show that you're getting it taken care of and are just waiting on parts.

TofuEater · 09-11-2012, 10:12 PM

I just took mine in this morning for this problem. The metal bit holding the capacitor was loose and it got bent. 3 week back order for the whole led housing.

jochfr · 03-10-2016, 12:20 PM

Just bought a 2015 BRZ and having the same issue... About to take it in.

Summerwolf · 03-10-2016, 01:12 PM

If anyone needs a spare, working, third brake light LMK. I took mine out a long time and it worked perfect lol.

Trying to sell off my stock parts so I don't have to move them.

09-08-2012, 01:02 AM	#1
Hotlava86 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: 2013 Hot lava Fr-s, 2007 Mazda 3 Location: kansas city missouri Posts: 282 Thanks: 30 Thanked 60 Times in 41 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Third brake light not working....what should i do before bringing it in? Well today i was informed by my friend that my third brake light was not functioning. Upon inspection....it's not. i inspected the wiring harness for the light and it is fine. and plugged in. If i have to take it into the dealership what should i do? I have a 12" sub and amp installed, an exhaust, an Intake and a crank pulley and an HKS oil filter. ( yes i know the performance parts have nothing to do with the brake light) Should i remove anything before taking it in? __________________ Raising the bar one step at a time! Kansas City FR-S/BRZ Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/452909128083343/ Hotlava86's Build thread!http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14152

09-08-2012, 01:09 AM	#3
Hotlava86 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: 2013 Hot lava Fr-s, 2007 Mazda 3 Location: kansas city missouri Posts: 282 Thanks: 30 Thanked 60 Times in 41 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	aren't there multiple bulbs in the third brake light? i thought there were 3-4 LED's in it? and i wouldn't think there would be a fuse just for the third brake light and not just tied in with the other brake lights. I would think the bulbs would be fine. However i have no idea how long they've been out... __________________ Raising the bar one step at a time! Kansas City FR-S/BRZ Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/452909128083343/ Hotlava86's Build thread!http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14152

09-09-2012, 01:05 AM	#6
Hotlava86 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: 2013 Hot lava Fr-s, 2007 Mazda 3 Location: kansas city missouri Posts: 282 Thanks: 30 Thanked 60 Times in 41 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	its not the sub...and it was done professionally. we did a continuity test on the light today. it isn't working at all. its getting power but its not functioning. SO WARRANTY TIME! __________________ Raising the bar one step at a time! Kansas City FR-S/BRZ Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/452909128083343/ Hotlava86's Build thread!http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14152

09-10-2012, 12:53 AM	#8
Hotlava86 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: 2013 Hot lava Fr-s, 2007 Mazda 3 Location: kansas city missouri Posts: 282 Thanks: 30 Thanked 60 Times in 41 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	we did a test from the battery with a continuity tested straight to the third brake lights connector. so gave it straight power and it didn't light at all. so the light assembly is bad...Toyota can't get it in until this coming friday...ugh __________________ Raising the bar one step at a time! Kansas City FR-S/BRZ Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/452909128083343/ Hotlava86's Build thread!http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14152

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09-08-2012, 01:06 AM	#2
Lonewolf Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: Moped Location: CA Posts: 4,300 Thanks: 4,905 Thanked 2,132 Times in 1,195 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The bulb is still good right...what about the fuse?

09-08-2012, 10:21 AM	#5
gmookher Banned Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: VortechSC,BorlaEL,Perrin,GCRace Location: HighHeatHighAltitudeAZ,USA Posts: 2,254 Thanks: 458 Thanked 669 Times in 394 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	who installed the stereo and sub?

09-09-2012, 11:39 PM	#7
White64Goat Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: 13 BRZ CBS LTD MT, 02 WRX Location: Fred. Co. Md. Posts: 2,351 Thanks: 65 Thanked 1,113 Times in 628 Posts Mentioned: 19 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	If you used a test light to check for power at the connector or sockets, and you have power, then you have a bad ground. (Assuming all the bulbs are good).

09-10-2012, 09:39 AM	#9
Draco-REX Corner Junkie Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: 13 BRZ, 11 STI, 99 RS Location: Ohio Posts: 2,908 Thanks: 129 Thanked 1,521 Times in 702 Posts Mentioned: 11 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The third brake lights have been defective in a number of cars (if you haven't checked yours, do so.) The part can be replaced from inside the cabin. I don't know if they have to get to the plug in the trunk, but in case they do, make sure that's accessible. Also, the part sometimes shows up as back-ordered in the Subaru parts system, just tell them to order it anyways. Mine was supposedly a couple months out, but it arrived in 2 weeks. After you bring it in, keep a copy of the inspection in your glovebox so if you get pulled over you can show that you're getting it taken care of and are just waiting on parts.

09-11-2012, 10:12 PM	#10
TofuEater Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: White GTS 86 Location: Aus Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I just took mine in this morning for this problem. The metal bit holding the capacitor was loose and it got bent. 3 week back order for the whole led housing.

03-10-2016, 01:12 PM	#12
Summerwolf Panda Trueno Join Date: Jan 2015 Drives: No twin now. Location: North Indiana Posts: 3,349 Thanks: 2,113 Thanked 2,409 Times in 1,332 Posts Mentioned: 17 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	If anyone needs a spare, working, third brake light LMK. I took mine out a long time and it worked perfect lol. Trying to sell off my stock parts so I don't have to move them.

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